2006 Lexus GS430 brakes

GAUGES, METERS AND SERVICE REMINDER INDICATORS
77
A warning light turning on briefly during operation does not
indicate a problem.
CAUTION
If either of the following conditions occurs, immediately
stop your
vehicle at a safe place and contact your Lexus
dealer.
 The light does not turn off even after the parking
brake is released while the engine is running.
In this case, the brakes may not work properly and
your stopping distance will become longer. Depress
the brake pedal firmly and bring the vehicle to an
immediate stop.
 The brake system warning light remains on together
with the “ABS” warning light.
In this case, not only the antilock brake system will
fail but also the vehicle will become extremely
unstable during braking.
GS430 only—Any of the following conditions may occur,
but do not indicate the malfunction:
The light may stay on for about 60 seconds after the engine
is started. It is normal if it turns off after a while.
 Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly may turn on the
warning light and buzzer. It is normal if the light turns off and
the buzzer stops sounding after a few seconds. 
You may hear a small sound in the engine compartment
after the engine is started or the brake pedal is depressed
repeatedly. This is a pump pulsating sound of the brake
system, and it is not a malfunction.
(b) Brake System Warning Light (yellow)
The light comes on when the engine switch is selected in
“IG−ON” mode.
GS430—If the engine is started, and the traction control
system, vehicle stability control system and hill −start assist
control system work properly, the light turns off after a few
seconds. Thereafter, if any part of the system malfunctions,
the light comes on again.
GS300—If the engine switch is selected in “IG −ON” mode, and
the traction control system, vehicle stability control system and
hill −start assist control system work properly, the light turns off
after a few seconds. Thereafter, if any part of the system
malfunctions, the light comes on again.
Although it is no problem to continue driving, have your vehicle
checked by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
(c) Driver’s Seat Belt Reminder Light and Buzzer
The light and buzzer act as a reminder to have the driver buckle
up the seat belt.

STARTING AND DRIVING
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CAUTION
To avoid an accident or injury, observe the following
instructions, and then drive slowly using the brakes
while confirming a safe distance around your vehicle
with your eyes.
The sensor detection range is limited around the
bumper. Be sure to confirm safety outside sensor
detection with your eyes. For the sensor detection
range, see page 383.
 It might take time for the sensors to detect the
obstacle.
 Depending on the shape of the obstacle, indicators or
beeps may not warn you properly, and the detection
range may also be shortened.
 It might be difficult to hear beeps due to the volume
of audio or air flow noise of air conditioning.
Dual sensors
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(A) Collision will be unavoidable: Collision with the
detected obstacle cannot be avoided even by changing the
steering.
(B) Collision will be avoided by changing the steering:
Collision with the obstacle can be avoided by changing the
steering.
(C) Collision will be avoide d with the present steering
angle: Even if you continue moving at the present steering
angle, the distance to the obstacle within sensor detection
range will not be less than about 25 cm (0.8 ft.).
The dual sensors detect an obstacle in front of the vehicle
or at an angle to the front of the vehicle, and estimate the
distance to the obstacle and also the steering angle
required. They will evaluate which of the above 3
conditions is applicable.

STARTING AND DRIVING
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Numerous obstacles are detected on the front
and rear of the vehicle simultaneously
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When obstacles are detected on the front and rear of the
vehicle at the same time; the multiinformation display
and screen illuminate their relevant indicator bars. And
beeps are as follows:
1Obstacles detected on the front and rear of the
vehicle are not in areas where continuous beeping
should sound: The warning for the obstacle closer to the vehicle will be
issued.
The above illustration indicates the obstacle detected
by the back sensors is closer to the vehicle. So, the warning for
the obstacle detected by the back sensors will be given.
2 The obstacle detected on the front or rear of the
vehicle is in an area where continuous beeping
should sound:
If the possibility of collision with the obstacle is high as shown,
the system warns the driver by continuous beeping (repeating
6 intermittent beeps and one longer beep as one cycle).
3 Both obstacles detected on the front and rear of the
vehicle are in areas where continuous beeping
should sound:
If the possibility of collision with the obstacles is very high as
shown, the system warns the driver by continuous beeping
(repeating 2 quick beeps and one longer beep as one cycle).
CAUTION
It might be difficult to hear beeps due to the volume of
audio or air flow noise of air conditioning. To avoid an
accident or injury, drive slowly using the brakes while
confirming a safe distance around your vehicle with
your eyes.

STARTING AND DRIVING
404If no vehicle is running ahead of you:
1
Cruising at a fixed speed: If there is no vehicle detected
ahead, your cruising speed is maintained at the preset
speed from about 45 km/h (28 mph) to about 135 km/h (85
mph). The preset speed is displayed in the
multi−information display. For the vehicle speed setting,
see “Setting operation ” on page 408.
If a vehicle is detected ahead of you:
2 Deceleration cruising function: If a slower moving
vehicle is detected ahead of you, your vehicle cruising
speed decreases within the range of about 40 km/h (25
mph) to about 135 km/h (85 mph). The multi− information
display shows the preset speed, the detected vehicle
ahead and selected vehicle− to−vehicle distance. If your
vehicle gets closer to the vehicle ahead because of
insufficient automatic deceleration, then the warning tone
warns you to also manually apply brakes.
3 Followup cruising function: After deceleration, your
vehicle cruising speed changes in proportion to the speed
of the vehicle ahead to maintain an appropriate distance
from your vehicle to the vehicle ahead. The
vehicle −to−vehicle distance can be changed. For details,
see “Changing vehicle −to−vehicle distance setting” on
page 412.
4 Acceleration cruising function: If the vehicle ahead
changes lanes, your vehicle cruising speed will be
gradually increased up to the preset speed, and your
vehicle resumes fixed− speed cruising.
CAUTION
Under certain conditions where the vehicle in front
slows drastically, or is stopped, the dynamic radar
cruise control will neither warn you nor decelerate. The
driver must depress the brake pedal to slow down,
ensuring collision avoidance or that sufficient
vehicletovehicle distance is maintained.
When vehicle−to−vehicle distance control mode is activated,
you must still be attentive to road and traf fic conditions. Should
your vehicle speed decrease below about 40 km/h (25 mph),
the dynamic radar cruise control will shut off, requiring you to
apply the brakes to slow. When a vehicle ahead slows
suddenly, stops or a vehicle cuts in front, the system may slow
your vehicle abruptly, but the automatic braking will cease if the
speed decreases below about 40 km/h (25 mph) requiring the
driver’s manual application of brakes.

STARTING AND DRIVING
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After bringing the vehicle to
the desired speed, press the
control lever downward in the “– SET” direction and release it.
This sets the vehicle at that speed. At this time, the
multi−information display indicates settings such as the preset
vehicle speed, whether a vehicle is present ahead and
selected vehicle −to−vehicle distance. If there is no vehicle
detected ahead, the dynamic radar cruise control screen does
not display the vehicle ahead. At this time, you may take your
foot off the accelerator pedal. If you need to accelerate − for
example, when passing − depress the accelerator pedal
enough for the vehicle to exceed the preset speed. When you
release the accelerator pedal, the vehicle will return to the
control prior to acceleration.
You cannot set a desired speed if the master warning light
comes on, the warning tone sounds and the multi− information
display indicates a warning message such as “CRUISE NOT
AVAILABLE”, “CLEAN RADAR SENSOR” or “CHECK
CRUISE SYSTEM”. If any of the above messages appears on
the display, see “Vehicle −to−vehicle distance control mode
failure warning” on page 417.
If you turn off the “ON−OFF” button while the warning message
is displayed, the warning message turns off and the
multi−information display switches to another screen. If no
warning message appears on the display, when you turn the
“ON−OFF” button on again, the setting can be made.
You can change the dynamic radar cruise control screen to
another screen even while the warning message is displayed.
2 Cancelling the preset speed
You can cancel the preset speed by doing any of the following:
a. Pulling the control lever, in the ”CANCEL” direction.
b. Depressing the brake pedal.
c. Pushing the “ON− OFF” button.
If cancelled by a. or b., the multi−information display shows
“RADAR READY” and the dynamic radar cruise control enters
the ready mode.
If cancelled by c., the “CRUISE” indicator light goes off in the
instrument cluster and the multi −information display shows
“CRUISE OFF”. In this case, the preset speed data is cleared,
and you must set the speed from the beginning.
In the following case, the preset speed automatically
cancels out. At this time, the multiinformation display
shows “RADAR READY” and the dynamic radar cruise
control enters the ready mode.
The vehicle speed falls below about 40 km/h (25 mph). (40
km/h (25 mph) is designated as a cancel speed.)
CAUTION
In this case, the warning tone reminds you that the
dynamic radar cruise control is cancelled and you must
apply the brakes to slow the vehicle.

STARTING AND DRIVING
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The vehicle−
to−vehicle distance is always set to “Long” when
the engine switch is turned on.
CAUTION
 Select the vehicletovehicle distance
considering traffic conditions. The approximate
vehicletovehicle distance based on time
interval when driving at 80 km/h (50 mph) is
shown below :
“Long” about 50 m (about 164 ft.) . . . . . . . .
“Middle” about 40 m (about 132 ft.) . . . . . .
“Short” about 30 m (about 100 ft.) . . . . . . .
If the vehicle speed is slower than 80 km/h (50 mph),
the distance will be shorter than the above.
 During long downhill driving, the vehicletovehicle
distance will be shorter than the selected distance.
(e) Braking control
Dynamic radar cruise control is not a collision avoidance
system. If an approach warning is activated, depress the brake
pedal to decelerate to ensure an appropriate
vehicle −to−vehicle distance.
G31017
 1
Under the vehicletovehicle distance control
2Braking activated
Braking control is operating only when the vehicle −to− vehicle
distance control mode is selected and your vehicle speed
exceeds about 40 km/h (25 mph).
If you are getting closer to the vehicle ahead at relatively higher
speed than those of the vehicle ahead or if engine braking
cannot be applied properly, braking control is automatically
activated. At this time, “BRAKE” flashes on the
multi−information display, indicating that the brakes are being
used.

STARTING AND DRIVING
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G31038
Slip indicator light
Leave the system on during the ordinary driving so that it
can operate when needed.
You may hear a sound in the engine compartment for a few
seconds just after the vehicle begins to move. This means that
the traction control system is in the self −check mode, but does
not indicate a malfunction.
When the traction control system is operating, the following
conditions occur:
 The system controls the spinning of the drive wheels. At this
time, the slip indicator light blinks.
 You may feel vibration or noise in your vehicle, caused by
operation of the brakes. This indicates the system is
functioning properly.
GS430—The slip indicator light comes on when the engine
switch is selected in “IG− ON” mode. The light goes off when
the engine is started. GS300—The slip indicator light comes on for a few seconds
when the engine switch is selected in “IG
−ON” mode.
If the indicator light does not come on when the engine switch
is selected in “IG −ON” mode, contact your Lexus dealer.
Traction control off mode
(twowheel drive models only)
G31008
If your wheels get stuck in a ditch when you are driving on
a severe off road and sand, turn off the traction control
system. This system that controls engine performance
interferes with the process of freeing your wheels.
To turn off: Push “TRAC OFF” switch.
The slip indicator light will come on.
The vehicle stability control system is always activated even if
the traction control system is turned off.

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VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROLSYSTEM
The vehicle stability control system helps provide
comprehensive control of the systems such as antilock
brake system, traction control, engine control, etc. This
system automatically controls the brakes and engine to
help prevent the vehicle from skidding when cornering on
a slippery road surface or operating steering wheel
abruptly.
The vehicle stability control system is activated when the
vehicle speed is about more than 15 km/h (9 mph).
You may hear a sound in the engine compartment for a few
seconds just after the vehicle begins to move. This means that
the system is in the self− check mode, but does not indicate a
malfunction.
CAUTION
 Do not rely excessively on the vehicle stability
control system. Even if the vehicle stability control
system is operating, you must always drive carefully
and attentively to avoid serious injury. Reckless
driving will result in an accident. If the slip indicator
light blinks, sounding an alarm, special care should
be taken while driving.
 Only use tires of specified size. The size,
manufacturer, brand and tread pattern for all 4 tires
should be the same. If you use the tires other than
specified, or different type or size, the vehicle
stability control system may not function correctly.
When replacing the tires or wheels, contact your
Lexus dealer.
 In situations where the road surface is covered with
ice or snow, your vehicle should be fitted with snow
tires or tire chains.